Welcome to I hope you enjoy my blog. I have links to the books I have written posted here. Along with a few family history links. I have projects we have done and are doing. Some ideas on food storage recipes and other hints. Along with our homestead chatter and crafts.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

I am still tyingthe grands quilt, only a 1/3 finished. Hard to find a time when I can lay it out when people aren't running around in the living room.
**I have heard a lot of hard times coming again and high inflation around the corner. We sure see the inflation creeping up at the store.

It is important to check out your food storage and replace things you are short off. Or if you haven't started having a storage do so of foods that will help you get by for as long as possible.

With all the winter storms it isn't a bad idea to have extra food, drink, a way to cook, light and some kind of alternate heat. Don't forget blankets and or sleeping bags. Also those of you with littles. Extra baby food, formula and don't forget things for the older kids to do that doesn't involve electricity.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

One of them is a long term goal; we are planning going on a mission around 14 to 24 months from now.

We know things change quickly but this is something we are shooting for while our health is still half way decent. I'm pretty much the bug in the wood work with that one with all my health problems. Frybromyalgia, arthritis in my feet and so on.

Well paying off bills is a big part of that also. There seems to always things coming up on us that need paid for. New tires needed, something needs repaired, a new doctor bill, one of our children needs help quick and so on and so forth. You know how that goes.If isn't one thing it's another. So getting some of the bills paid off always get put off.

I am also continuing to work on quilts for the grandchildren slow but sure on that one.This is the next; it still needs tied. It's an around the world with blooming flowers.

I also finished 4-16x16 pillows.

Grand daughter claimed the cat one immediately. I just did primitive embroidery on them for something quick that I liked.Note: Don't forget to stock up on more cold and flu meds. I know when a couple of us come down with colds or flu we go through them quite quickly and I need to remember to replace them a few at a time when we go shopping.Pick up fluids that can be drank at this time to replace your electrolytes. We buy the jarred powdered so we can make it as weak or strong as we each like.

Monday, January 13, 2014

Given the recent
chemical spill that may have contaminated the tap water of roughly 300,000
residents of a number of counties in West Virginia, drinking water is on
people’s minds. Ice storms, blizzards and unusually cold weather have also
disrupted the water supply to thousands if not tens of thousands of people
across the country recently.

How much water you
actually need every day is different from how much is used or in some cases
wasted.

According to the
USGS (United States Geological Society), the average shower uses two gallons
per minute while a bath in an average tub uses up to 36 gallons. Some tubs are
larger of course and this assumes they are relatively full.

You can use between
4 and 10 gallons washing dishes in an automatic dishwasher but the amount
depends on how efficient the appliance is. Hand washing dishes throughout the day
can use up to 20 gallons of water.

Oral hygiene
consumes one gallon of water per person each time they brush if they leave the
water running. Newer automatic washing machines can use 25 gallons per load.
One toilet flush is three gallons, hands and face washing one gallon daily and
watering outdoor plants can use 5 to 10 gallons per minute.

This breaks down to
the average person using between 80 and 100 gallons of water daily (USGS,
2013).

How Much Water
Do You Need

To sustain life the
average adult needs two quarts/liters of water/liquid daily. In hot weather
where you are sweating profusely, you may need in excess of a gallon of water
daily just to replace the lost fluids. You need constant hydration to prevent
dehydration regardless of the outside temperature.

People generally do
not think about dehydration during the normal course of the day because they
receive fluids in many forms. Coffee, teas, fruit drinks, soda to some extent,
energy drinks and those drinks designed to replace lost fluids all add to your
fluid intake. Once there is a shortage of water however, people will need to
concentrate on their fluid intake to avoid dehydration in any weather.

For short
disruptions in the water supply you probably only need to worry about water for
hydration, oral care and personal hygiene (sponge baths). After three or four
days, however you will need water for laundry and for cooking meals that are
more substantial. Most canned foods do not need water for cooking but dried
beans, rice and dehydrated/freeze dried foods, for example, will need water in
the cooking process.

Water Storage

When properly
stored water has an indefinite shelf life, but the containers do not. For
example, bottled water purchased from a retailer must have an expiration date
by law. It is not the water that deteriorates it is the container. The plastic
used will become brittle and breakdown overtime. The typical expiration date is
between one and two years from date of purchase. Sunlight and artificial light
will hasten the breakdown.

You can store water
in food grade plastic containers designed specifically for water and they come
in various sizes from five gallon thru 50 gallons and larger. Plastic milk jugs
are not ideal for storing water for any length of time because the plastic is designed
for short period of liquid storage. Milk is a perishable and the containers do
not need to sustain the liquid for long periods.

Water in blue food
grade plastic water barrels if filled with clean tap water can last
indefinitely if the water does not become contaminated for any reason. Water
will become “stale” from lack of aeration, and this will affect the taste
however. You can aerate water by creating bubbles in the water by moving the
barrel with the cap removed or by stirring with a sanitized stirring device.
Stirring or otherwise disturbing the water causes bubbles to rise to the
surface. The bubbles collect dissolved oxygen when they rise to the surface and
burst, this process then distributes it in the water to freshen it.

Never store water in
any container that is not approved for food storage. Never store water in any
container that had chemicals or toxins in it no matter how much you think you
have cleaned it.

Filtration and
purification by boiling or chemical means will not remove deadly toxins or
poisons, such as what may be in the tap water in West Virginia. You should
never immerse any parts of your body in any water you suspect is contaminated
with any type of toxin or chemicals. If your clothing becomes saturated from
contaminated water, remove immediately to prevent absorption of the chemicals
through your skin.

Certain chemicals
can have a lower flash point than the temperature needed to boil water so never
attempt to heat or otherwise attempt to purify any water source you suspect is
contaminated with chemicals.

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

We received about an inch of snow last night and the wind is really whipping out there. In a couple of days we will get a warmer south wind and it's supposed to bring 50 MPH windsour way. We do need the moisture. There are farm ponds in the area that I have never seen dry before.

I just found a ladies net site that talks about making gloves from old socks. What a great idea. Hats off.

We got to visit with the grand children in the valley over Christmas and see quite a few of our children. Wish some weren't so far off. We don't even get to see the ones close very much. Hopefully this year we will be able to.

Sallys Country Home

Informational Sites

About Us

We are the parents of 10 children. We have 5 boys and 5 girls. We lost 1 daughter Dec 3 2012. My husband and I live on a small old farm built in the 1930s, it is in need a lot of work. It is getting done little by little. Each year finds improvements made. We are down to lots of chickens, 2 dogs and 1 cat. At different times of the year we raise Cornish X-Rock meat birds and turkeys. I write,love taking pictures,doing family history, reading, wash and spin wool, do all sorts of needlework, quilt, garden, can and dehydrate produce and I love learning new crafts. Together we reroofed the house and built a roof over our deck. Hubby is very handy and is a jack of all trades. Farm fence work is continuing.